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Friday 8 September 2017

Starbucks Celebrates Barista Champions’ Coffee Craft and Artistry

at 3rd Annual Barista Championship Experience in Puebla, Mexico

ORANJESTAD - Shamiris As- lombia, Costa Rica, Chile,
canio, winner of the Star- Mexico, Peru and Puerto
bucks Aruba & Curacao Rico had the opportunity to
Barista Championship, was share their passion for qual-
one of 11 Barista Champi- ity and barista craft at the
ons from across Latin Amer- 3rd annual Barista Cham-
ica & the Caribbean who pionship Experience, this
the company selected to year held in Puebla, Mexi-
visit Puebla, Mexico to pre- co. “Starbucks Partners are
pare for their new roles. This the igniters of human con-
year’s champions visited nection that continues to
the Pablo Aco coffee farm, elevate the coffee experi-
shared their Starbucks sto- ence as the passion that
ries, and took part in a final is poured into every bev-
latte art throw down. erage is unquestionable,”
emphasized Ricardo Rico
There is a lot of work that vp and general manager
goes into preparing a per- Latin America & Caribbe-
fect Starbucks beverage an at Starbucks. “We have
and Starbucks baristas young leaders who are
know this very well. Wheth- passionately sharing their
er it be an espresso, a latte, story with others over cof-
group. Day in and day out, engaging in conversations regardless of where they
we share our love and pas- about coffee and learning are from. Participating in
sion with our customers and from other countries, one the Barista Championship
that brings down any bar- of the main highlights of this experience and having
rier”, said Samady Medina, experience was the final the opportunity to come to
Starbucks senior operations regional Barista Champi- Mexico made me humble
consultation manager for onship competition where and a better person and
Latin America & Caribbe- Giselle Dominguez from strengthened the passion
an who led the 2017 Barista Puerto Rico, claimed the for what I do.” Dominguez
Champions visit to Puebla. very top spot as the 2017 said. ”Winning this champi-
“If I could describe the 2017 Barista Champion. onship gave me a chance
Barista Championship Ex- When asked about what to demonstrate how much
perience with one word it winning the Championship love goes into each bev-
would be family—it’s amaz- meant to her, she said: “This erage and that every per-
ing to see what Starbucks, experience confirmed that fectly crafted beverage
its culture and the coffee coffee is a great channel tells a connection story for
means to each and every to create sincere human all the people that come
one of them.” In addition to connections with people and visit us.”q

a cappuccino or a Flat fee— they will mark the dif-
White all beverages are ference in their countries as
handcrafted by baristas they all have dreams and
that pour their passion and are enthusiastically look-
pride to showcase their skills ing on how to make them
and elevate each bever- come true”.
age’s quality. The week-long event cel-
Last month, 2,000 Starbucks ebrated the champions
baristas from 16 countries while inspiring and equip-
across Latin America and ping them to be leaders in
the Caribbean participat- coffee craft and customer
ed in local Starbucks Baris- connections at their stores.
ta Championship compe- The champions also had
titions, whose first stage the opportunity to experi-
took place in their respec- ence firsthand the entire
tive stores, then within their coffee journey- from plant-
district and finally at the ing a coffee tree at the
country level. Ultimately, 11 Pablo Aco coffee farm,
champions – representing to perfecting their barista
the best of the best – from skills showcasing their latte
Aruba, Argentina, Baha- art. “I feel so proud of the
mas, Brazil, Bolivia, Co- Barista Championship 2017